Tag Archives: Anaphylaxis

Post navigation

I’d been playing with my flip-flop and spacing out as I sat in the examination room yesterday waiting for my appointment to begin. All of a sudden I was being rushed out of the examination area by the nurse—a kind, bubbly woman who knows about my anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. It felt like a personal building evacuation: “Kelsey, we need to get you out of here now!”

One of the staff had microwaved pancakes with peanut butter, so the whole building was beginning to smell like warm peanuts (no, I’m not allergic to the smell itself). The staff madly threw every window open to let as much fresh peanut-free air into the doctor’s office as possible as they escorted me out of the all-of-a-sudden-extremely-dangerous building.

I had to take a Benadryl (chomped down on one of the liquid pills and put it under my tongue so it took effect extra fast), and because I was rushed out of the building so quickly, that’s thankfully all I needed. The whole event was was still scary nevertheless for everyone involved because we all knew it could end with me being lifted into an ambulance if that Benadryl didn’t do the trick—and fast!

Because I couldn’t risk going back inside the building (and the staff wouldn’t have let me risk it even if I’d wanted to), I then had to have my appointment in the parking lot. Odd but it worked. Although, I’ll have to go back for the examination another day. Having to reschedule an examine is pretty minor compared with spending the rest of the day in the ER. And thankfully I’d gotten a ride to my appointment because otherwise I would’ve had a hard time getting home due to how spacey the Benadryl makes me feel.

Most people aren’t regularly questioned about their diet, but when you live with anaphylaxis it’s just part of life. People have a lot of questions because, unless someone has a family member or close friend who lives with anaphylaxis, the whole concept of a life-threatening allergy to some sort of food is pretty foreign. And understandably so. Anaphylaxis means so much more than just a limited diet—it means a limited life and a completely different style of living.

This doesn’t mean that I’m unable to have a full, satisfying life, though, but it does takes more planning and flexibility.

One thing that helps make living with anaphylaxis easier is when people take the time to understand, so I’ve compiled a list of the most common questions I’m asked:

1. Do you react to the smell of peanuts?

Nope. Part of the general confusion about airborne anaphylaxis comes from when folks use the word “smell.” People assume that when I say I have an airborne anaphylactic reaction it means I’m either reacting to, afraid of, or don’t like the smell of peanuts. It really is impossible to react to just the smell itself, though, but that doesn’t mean airborne reactions to even trace amounts of the proteins in peanuts (what people are actually reacting to) aren’t real.

2. What is anaphylaxis?

Let’s look at a quick definition of anaphylaxis:

“Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you’re allergic to, such as a peanut or the venom from a bee sting.

“The flood of chemicals released by your immune system during anaphylaxis can cause you to go into shock; your blood pressure drops suddenly and your airways narrow, blocking normal breathing … Anaphylaxis requires an immediate trip to the emergency department and an injection of epinephrine [Epi-Pen]. If anaphylaxis isn’t treated right away, it can lead to unconsciousness or even death.” From the Mayo Clinic’s website.

Basically, anaphylaxis means someone could die, not just feel discomfort, if they’re exposed to their allergen. It’s also so extreme that it’s considered a recognized ADA disability because it impairs breathing (which is why it can cause death).

I’m allergic to a bunch of trees and flowers, cows, tomatoes, soy, dairy, and the list goes on, but none of them besides peanuts and mushrooms—even though some of them are extremely unpleasant to have reactions to and could even result in me missing work—are anaphylactic reactions. This doesn’t mean my other reactions aren’t a big deal, it just means they’re not life-threatening or a ADA recognized disability.

A lot of times there’ll be confusion when someone is talking about an anaphylaxis reaction and using the word “allergy” because everyone imagines the person is just breaking into hives or sneezing. It’s really unfortunate that people too often imagine sneezing when an anaphylactic reaction to something like peanuts or a bee sting is actually closer to someone eating a deadly poison—death is a very realistic concern.

3. Are you sure it’s anaphylaxis and not a panic attack?

Well, I didn’t self-diagnose myself as having anaphylaxis. I told several doctors and allergists what was happening when I was exposed to peanuts, and they told me I’d learned the hard way that I have an airborne anaphylactic reaction to a protein in peanuts.

Also, important to note: some of my very worst anaphylaxis reactions have happened when someone was eating something peanut-y near me and I had no idea I was near peanuts until I started to choke. My throat begins to close up and I’ll stop breathing if immediate action isn’t taken. I’d look around quickly while reaching for my emergency Benadryl and Epi-Pens, knowing that I was reacting to something because I couldn’t breathe. And then I’ll spot a peanut butter cookie or PB and J near me that I hadn’t seen or even smelled previously.

This has happened countless times—on the train, in a college classroom, at the ballet (the person behind me snuck a peanut butter sandwich in, and nobody knew), standing in line at Disneyland, and all kinds of other places. I’ll tell whoever is with me, “I’m having trouble breathing!” And we’ll both look around while getting me to an easily-accessible location in case the paramedics have to come and, oftentimes fairly quickly, we identify some peanut product that had previously escaped our notice.

I don’t have to smell the peanuts or even be aware that they’re in the same vicinity as me to react. And, unfortunately, I’m so sensitive to the peanut protein I’m allergic to that it doesn’t require much exposure at all to send me into anaphylactic shock. This is why whenever I go to my regular doctor or allergist I’m given the “you-could-die-if-you-didn’t-have-your-Epi-Pen” lecture (they’re always glad to see that it’s on my person).

4. Have you experienced an anaphylactic reaction before?

Yup, I sure have. A number of times, unfortunately. One of the most memorable was when I was in Disneyland with my fiancé and our families in September 2012. A woman in front of us in line for a ride opened a treat with peanuts. My throat began to close up, I took instant Benadryl but it didn’t work. My fiancé, Mr. M, had to give me my Epi-Pen and call 911, and we spent about 10 hours in the ER room. It was a terrifying start to our Disneyland vacation.

Usually my reactions don’t end up with me in the ER, but every single one of them has the possibility to become that serious. And if I didn’t immediately take Benadryl every time, my peanut reactions would always lead to the ER because unfortunately the reactions don’t just wear off if I get fresh air or go away after a while—they get worse.

5. Can’t you just leave the room when you’re having a reaction?

There’s sometimes the misunderstanding that because I’m so extremely sensitive to peanuts it’ll act as some kind of sixth sense—alerting me to the dangers before I start to have a major reaction. Or that if I see peanut-y products, like candies or a PB and J, that I just need to get out of the area.

Unfortunately, by the time that I see something peanut-y that’s unwrapped or start to have a reaction (my throat starts closing up), it’s too late. I always leave the room quickly, but at that point I’m already having a reaction.

By the time I notice unwrapped peanuts in an area, I’m smack-dab in the middle of a life-threatening medical emergency. As a result, the only way to avoid anaphylactic reactions is by not being exposed to the allergen (in my case, peanuts) in the first place.

6. Have you tried masking?

This is a very common suggestion that people make, and something I actually talked with my doctor about a while back. It really does seem like a great idea at first, which I completely get because I’d wondered if it’d work, too.

My doctor said that the mask itself likely wouldn’t protect me from having anaphylactic reactions. But the trouble is that even if I had a good enough mask that it did help while I wore it, if I were exposed to peanuts while wearing a mask I’d have a reaction as soon as I took the mask off. For example, I’ve reacted to my clothing after having been exposed to peanuts.

It’s like if someone encountered a toxic spill; wearing a mask wouldn’t help because it would be on their clothing and everywhere. As a result, once I get home from having a major reaction I have to shower and wash my clothes to make sure the particles are completely off of everything (after I have an anaphylactic reaction I’m much, much more sensitive even than normal so it’s very important to get everything as clean and peanut-free as possible).

7. Will you outgrow it?

Sometimes—but not always—people who have food allergies as children will outgrow their allergies as they get older. Not something to bank on, though and, if you’re talking to the parent of a child with food allergies, don’t tell them it’ll all be a-okay in a couple of years, because there’s no way of knowing if that particular child will be one of the lucky ones. And they likely won’t be.

That said, I don’t even have the chance of being one of the lucky kiddos to outgrow my food allergies because my peanut allergy started when I was 21 (I’m 26 now for reference). Those of us who develop food allergies as adults are more apt (I honestly don’t know why) do be anaphylactic. And we also don’t outgrow our food foes.

8. Can’t you just use your Epi-Pen?

A lot of people think that as long as I have my magical Epi-Pen on me that I’ll be fine, but all Epi-Pens truly do is override the anaphylactic reaction temporarily. If I had to use my Epi-Pen it wouldn’t fix things; it’d mean I’d have to be rushed to the ER in an ambulance before the reaction returned with full force. Basically, it just buys me a little more time (I’ve been told about twenty minutes, but I think it’d depend on the severity of the allergy).

It’s not a solution; it just provides me with enough time to hopefully get to the ER before going unconscious or dying.

Epi-Pens even say on the directions to call 911 immediately after using. And, believe me, paramedics take it very seriously when you tell them you just had to use your Epi-Pen.

9. Can you take medication or get allergy shots?

There’s no magic pill that will allow me to eat or be in the same room as peanuts. Boy, it would be nice if there was, though. And allergies shots are for your hay-fever variety of allergies, not food-induced anaphylaxis.

10. Do you miss peanuts?

I used to adore peanuts. I’d even made up my own peanut-butter based mythology (whoever gets to eat the swirl at the top of a freshly opened jar of peanut butter got a wish). And the summer of 2005, right after I graduated from high school, I lived in Hungary for about four months. A land that was virtually void of my favorite snack, so my mom mailed me a jar of creamy Skippy every month.

That was then. Now peanuts and peanut butter are no longer a homey treat when I’m far away—they’re something I have to spend my entire life avoiding. So even though I was extra fond of peanut butter originally, I don’t miss eating the sticky, gooey product out of the jar. What I truly miss is the convenience of not having to live a peanut-focused life thanks to anaphylaxis.

My airborne anaphylaxis reaction to peanuts comes up frequently in conversation (anaphylaxis is just another way of saying possible death by peanuts if someone so much as opens a peanut-y product near me; it’s like what would happen to Superman if someone were to snack on a Kryptonite sandwich next to him). The frequency of it coming up in conversation is partly due to me not-so-subtly injecting “I have a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to peanuts” into conversations (awkward, yes, but it sure beats ending up in the ER later because they cracked open a PB and J). Even without my smooth attempts at alerting those around me, my anaphylaxis comes up a lot because it impacts everything.

Unsure how anaphylaxis could impact so much? Well, check out my list.

Life as a Grownup:

Grocery shopping. I have to bring a buddy with me whenever I need groceries. There are still a few stores that are so dangerous they’re completely off limits, even when I have a bodyguard.

Work. My boss is amazing. There are “peanut-free” signs all over the tutoring center where I work, and new coworkers are even trained on how to use an Epi-Pen (but this is all highly unusual and not at all what my previous jobs have been like).

Buying our first house. What if our neighbors have little tikes who eat peanut butter while running between our houses or the elderly couple likes to feed the squirrels? While not completely avoidable, it’s definitely something to think about. Therefore, the most important aspect of a new house: space between us and the neighbors.

Wedding plans. Originally, when Mr. M and I had talked about having about 50 people total I’d worried about how to insure that no one had just eaten peanuts (ending up in the ER on my wedding day isn’t something I’d pinned on my Pinterest Wedding Board). We’d talked about including PLEASE, DON’T EAT PEANUTS BEFOREHAND in the invitation, but in the end opted for an even smaller wedding (10 people). We chose to go small for a number of reasons, but the whole anaphylaxis thing did come into play.

Miscellaneous:

Purse size. Carrying a small purse will never be an option for me because I’m always loaded down with my double pack of Epi-Pens and enough Benadryl to wipe out seasonal allergies for everyone in the greater Seattle region.

Cellphone. My life literally depends on having a fully charged cellphone on my person at all times. Remembering my charger is a safety issue, not just a matter of wanting to stay in touch with all my pals on Instagram. And if I forget to turn my phone back on in the morning, my family will worry (and with good reason) that I’m in the ER, unable to respond. So staying in touch is important for my safety as well as everyone’s peace of mind.

Gardening. I’m hoping to set up a vegetable garden once the Mr. Man and I get married, but in order to garden safely, I’m going to need to have raised beds with something like a tarp to keep the squirrels out. And I’ll need willing hands to help me get my gardens going (I’ll be able to take care of the garden once it’s safe from squirrel visitors leaving their hidden peanuts behind).

Goodnight kiss. My fiancé completely avoids peanuts because he wants to keep me safe. He knows it could truly be the kiss of death if he’d just eaten a PB and J. I also have people (extended family, friends, random people I just met) worry about whether it’s safe for me to kiss my fiancé; I appreciate their concern and all but it’s still a little awkward.

Maid of Honor’s responsibility. My Maid of Honor will be carrying an emergency kit during the wedding, but it won’t have the usual safety pins and waterproof mascara—think Epi-Pens and Benadryl.

Hopes and Dreams:

Career. Just imagine. I’ve sailed through the onslaught of rigorous questions. End of the interview: “Do you have any questions?” My only real concern would be about peanuts (where do people eat lunches, what do they usually eat, etc.), which wouldn’t really make me a top candidate. Thankfully, life as an English composition tutor is pretty flexible and has the option of being done right out of my own home. Changing things up with a regular 9am to 5pm office job might not be impossible, but it would be very dangerous and tricky. And scary. Very scary.

Children. A lot of focus in Blogland is on how parents raise children with food allergies or anaphylaxis (dealing with daycare and starting first grade), but what about when it’s the parent who has anaphylaxis? While also not impossible, it would be trickier than usual to have kids because a lot of places geared at children (zoos, parks, Sunday school classrooms, school lunch rooms, etc.) often have peanut-y things. And while my hypothetical children may not have problems with peanuts themselves, if they were exposed to something peanut-y while out, it could result in a medical emergency for me.

Finishing my BA.The food culture on campus (where students eat, what they eat, the food policies in classrooms and library buildings, etc.) along with what the Disability Support Services office is like on campus will be important concerns to address when choosing which university I decide to transfer to next year. Thankfully, there are also a lot of good online options now—not just diploma mills—which, as an adult learner who will be newly married and working, could be a great option

Socializing:

Dating. Things barely got off the ground with my fiancé thanks to his love of peanut butter bars. In order to begin just socializing with me between college classes he had to develop new eating habits (he was pretty persistent though, so he still got Anaphylaxis Girl in the end and has become an amazing anaphylaxis ally).

Visiting friends’ houses / apartments. Before attending a graduation party or going over to a friend’s house for lunch I have to ask some odd questions: How often do you eat peanut products? Do you leave things like bags of peanuts laying around? This is why I’m looking forward to having my own home; I’ll be able to invite everyone over to my peanut-free place without the awkward inquiries.

Making new friends. Being my friend comes with unusual obligations, restrictions, and responsibilities. It’s important that acquaintances don’t eat peanut stuff around me, or I could die. And it’s equally important that they know what to do in an emergency. Before hanging out with someone (peanuts can show up in some pretty random places so it’s good to be prepared) I have to train them on how to use my Epi-Pen and what to tell the paramedics.

Important Events:

Family holidays / events. The last time I went over to my grandpa’s house someone pulled out a big bag of peanuts and began throwing them around the yard for the squirrels. Scary. Super scary. Yes, I had a reaction. No, it didn’t change anything other than make me realize that I can’t go over to their house again because it’s not safe. (Thankfully, my immediate family and future in-laws are understanding and supportive.)

Friends’ major life events. As is true with most 26-year-olds, most of my friends are getting hitched soon. And I would love to go to all of their weddings, but before I can RSVP I have to ask the same old questions about food. And oftentimes I don’t get to go. This is also true of engagement parties, bridal showers, birthday parties, graduation parties, baby showers, and even memorial services. If it seems way too weird to ask about food, I just stay home.

Gettin’ Around:

Planes. There are at least a couple airlines that still serve peanuts, so calling ahead of time is important (this is a theme in my life). I also have to talk with the stewardesses so that they can make an announcement asking the passengers to please avoid peanut products during the fight because, otherwise, they will have to land the plane if I go into anaphylactic shock (what’s scary is that it’s not an empty threat).

Trains. Trains are especially bad compared to buses, at least in my area of the world, because people tend to eat on trains a lot more often. Unless I know a train will be so empty I’ll practically have a car to myself (it does happen but rarely), I try to avoid traveling by rail.

Automobiles. Carpooling, specifically. Once again I have to ask strange, somewhat invasive questions about their eating habits but this time as it relates to their automobile.

Places to Go:

Movie theaters. It’s better to go earlier in the day (preferably the morning or a weekday). And sticking with the films that have been out for a bit is a good idea, too. The less people the better. If people end up sitting near me, I have to ask them if they’re going to be eating anything peanut-y and explain that I’m anaphylactic (yes, it’s awkward to ask random strangers about their food and volunteer information about my medical history).

Eating out. Calling ahead is important whether it’s a coffee shop, restaurant, or bar and grill. Never know where the specialty will be peanut butter cupcakes (yes, it’s a thing).

Local and national parks. Not good places to go on holidays, especially if they tend to have a lot of picnic areas. Beaches are usually okay because everyone is swimming and you’re generally not supposed to eat while swimming anyway. But peanuts show up in weird places.

Church. At my old church the pastor would make an announcement once a month reminding the extremely small congregation to not bring peanut products to the monthly potluck. Without fail though one of the elderly members would make their famous peanut butter cookie recipe because they didn’t know that peanut butter was made out of peanuts. It didn’t take long for me to realize that church really isn’t a safe option for me anymore. (One not-exactly-Christ-like member said that I should basically just go elsewhere because I was too much of an inconvenience. Ouch.)

The ballet / Opera / Theater. Learned the hard way that it’s best to go to evening performances (avoid matinees because sometimes people pack their own lunches), and saving up for the more expensive seats can be worth it because people are much less likely to sneak food in. In case you’re unaware, sneaking food in during the ballet is very uncouth.

Personal Consequences:

Lack of independence. I can’t go places alone unless I already know that it’s safe. And while I love grocery shopping with Mr. M, sometimes it would be great to go to Fred Meyer or Safeway by myself for a change. But it’s risky going into stores like that even with someone, so there’s no way Mr. M or my family would let me go shopping there alone.

Lack of spontaneity. Last minute plans aren’t really an option. Even if I just want to try out a new coffee shop it’s important for me to call ahead of time to make sure nothing peanut-y is on the menu.

Level of anxiety. As a couple of folks have put it, I live in a war. A war against my enemy: peanuts. Every time I hear the terrifying rip of a wrapper I whirl around to identify the contents, hoping that I won’t end up in the ER. It can be pretty stressful, but the more that I make a point to use the buddy system when shopping, have people come over to my house more often than going to theirs, and so forth, the more I can relax and feel normal (ish).

Hope for the human race. Every time someone tells me that peanut butter doesn’t have peanuts in it, I swear that a little bit of me dies as I mentally facepalm.

Plenty of firsthand experience with people who aren’t exactly empathetic. I’ve been told that I’m an inconvenience, dramatic, and even mentally ill (sometimes they’ll just say “It’s all in your head” but other times it’s a lot meaner than that). I have an ADA recognized disability but because it’s invisible unless I’m currently going into anaphylactic shock, people often doubt its very existence. This doesn’t exactly make thing easier, and the lack of understanding makes it scarier when I have to tell someone I don’t know very well about my anaphylaxis.

Sense of mortality. Some people hope they die quietly in their bed surrounded by love ones, but I hope most of all that I don’t die from peanuts. And that, the reality that peanuts could kill me without me even having to eat them, is why I have to be so careful.

Some people have not-so-empathetically suggested that I “let” anaphylaxis impact my life. What they don’t understand though is my anaphylaxis is so serious it’s considered an ADA recognized disability, which means that it impacts and disables me all on its own. Unfortunately, my disability is invisible—I look fairly normal, no one would guess going grocery shopping is challenging—but my disability is very real, nonetheless. As a result of wanting to stay alive, and who can blame me, being responsible means doing everything I can to avoid my personal Kryptonite.

Part of the general confusion about airborne anaphylaxis comes from the word “smell” (people assume that when I say I have an airborne anaphylactic reaction it means I’m either reacting to, afraid of, or don’t like the smell of peanuts). It really is impossible to react to just the smell itself, but that doesn’t mean airborne reactions to very small amounts of the proteins in peanuts (what people are actually reacting to) aren’t real.

Some of my very worst reactions have happened when someone was eating something peanut-y near me and I had no idea until I started to choke (my throat begins to close up and I’ll stop breathing if immediate action isn’t taken). I’d look around quickly while reaching for my emergency Benadryl and Epi-Pens, knowing that I was reacting to something because I couldn’t breath, and spot a peanut butter cookie or PB and J near me. So I don’t have to smell the peanuts or even be aware that they’re in the same vicinity as me to react. And, unfortunately, I’m so sensitive to the protein I’m allergic to that it doesn’t require much exposure at all.

This doesn’t mean that I’m unable to have a full, satisfying life—it just takes more planning, flexibility and supportive friends and family who are willing to do things like go to the movie theater at odd times because that’s when it’s safer. And, hey, Superman not only survives life with his anaphylaxis but regularly saves the world and still manages to be pretty cool. But I still think the Man of Steel gets off easier than a lot of us anaphylactic folks since Kryptonite sandwiches haven’t really taken off yet.

Do you have further questions about food allergies or anaphylaxis (like what the heck anaphylaxis is anyway, why I can’t just leave the room when I run into peanuts, or why using my Epi-Pen doesn’t make an reaction go away)? Well, you’re in luck! Check out The 7 Most Common Question About Anaphylaxis.